Israel’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 2.8% in March 2026, up from an eight-month low of 2.7% in February. The non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate, however, fell to 2.5% from 2.6%, with the number of unemployed decreasing by 3,500 to 113,900. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate declined to 62.0% from 62.4%, signaling a modest reduction in workforce engagement. The employment rate also dropped to 60.2% from 60.8% in February. source: Central Bureau of Statistics, Israel

Unemployment Rate in Israel increased to 2.80 percent in March from 2.70 percent in February of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Israel averaged 5.75 percent from 1992 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 11.40 percent in March of 1992 and a record low of 2.60 percent in August of 2024. This page provides the latest reported value for - Israel Unemployment Rate - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Israel Unemployment Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.

Unemployment Rate in Israel increased to 2.80 percent in March from 2.70 percent in February of 2026. Unemployment Rate in Israel is expected to be 3.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Israel Unemployment Rate is projected to trend around 3.20 percent in 2027 and 3.10 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-03-23 11:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Feb 2.7% 3.1% 3.2%
2026-05-07 10:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Mar 2.8% 2.7% 2.8%
2026-05-18 10:00 AM
Unemployment Rate
Apr 2.8% 2.9%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Employed Persons 4364.40 4390.50 Thousand Mar 2026
Employment Rate 60.20 60.80 percent Mar 2026
Job Vacancies 119740.00 143939.00 Mar 2026
Labor Force Participation Rate 62.00 62.40 percent Mar 2026
Population 9.99 9.85 Million Dec 2024
Unemployed Persons 125.70 121.20 Thousand Mar 2026
Unemployment Rate 2.80 2.70 percent Mar 2026
Wages 14032.40 14018.50 ILS/Month Aug 2025
Wages in Manufacturing 132.90 142.30 points Aug 2025


Israel Unemployment Rate
In Israel, the unemployment rate measures the number of people actively looking for a job as a percentage of the labour force.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
2.80 2.70 11.40 2.60 1992 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Israel Unemployment Ticks Up to 2.8% in March
Israel’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 2.8% in March 2026, up from an eight-month low of 2.7% in February. The non-seasonally adjusted jobless rate, however, fell to 2.5% from 2.6%, with the number of unemployed decreasing by 3,500 to 113,900. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate declined to 62.0% from 62.4%, signaling a modest reduction in workforce engagement. The employment rate also dropped to 60.2% from 60.8% in February.
2026-05-07
Israel Jobless Rate Falls to 8-Month Low
Israel’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 2.7% in February 2026 from 3.1% in the previous month, signaling an improvement in labor market conditions. This marks the lowest reading since June last year, as the number of unemployed persons fell. Meanwhile, the labor force participation rate edged slightly lower to 62.5% from 62.7%, suggesting a modest pullback in workforce engagement. The employment rate remained unchanged at 60.8%, indicating stable job creation despite the dip in participation.
2026-03-23
Israel Jobless Rate Unchanged at 3% in October
Israel’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held at 3.0% in October 2025, unchanged from the previous month. The employment rate remained stable at 60.9%, while the labor force participation rate also stayed at 62.8%. In the non-adjusted data, the unemployment rate rose to 3.2% from 3.0%. The employment rate eased slightly to 60.4% from 61.0% in September, while the participation rate fell to 62.4% from 62.9%. Excluding persons temporarily absent for economic reasons, employment was 60.2%, down from 60.8%. Temporary absences dropped sharply: economic reasons 2.5% (5.6%), reserves 5.9% (11.7%), and other 0.5% (0.2%). Men absent for economic reasons fell to 4.1%, women to 1.3%. The total unemployed reached 145.7k, employed temporarily absent 542.2k, with 4,424.6k employed out of 7,329k aged 15+ in the population.
2025-11-17